Author Topic: Finishing Black Walnut and Barrel (Read 3070 times)

canadianml1 · « **on:** May 31, 2020, 08:37:43 PM »

What's your experience with finishing black walnut? I was thinking of using just Tru-oil sanded in to fill the grain. I did it on a French trade gun and it turned out really well. The stock that I am working on is somewhat darker so I am not sure. Any ideas appreciated.

Also going to finish barrel faux French gray with Brass Black or Super Perma Blue(first attempt with same). Any pointers would be appreciated.

Goose · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2020, 09:12:24 PM »

I've had good results using Tru Oil cut with mineral spirits. Found it to be a little thick right out of the bottle. Chambers oil is another good choice.

Scota4570 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2020, 10:04:47 PM »

Walnut is porous. If you want a smooth finish you will need to fill the grain. That can be done with a slurry of sanding dust and dilute finish or a tinted paste wood filler. Rubbing on gillions of coats of finish will eventually fill the grain too.

45-110 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2020, 10:59:23 PM »

The final finish and surface texture is some what dependent on what your are building. I find a sealed open grain finish appealing on say a military weapon, or a highly finished surface on a nice flint pistol, late percussion rifle etc. like my Dimick rifle. Fancy grain wood usually calls for a higher finish. I usually start with Tung oil, sometimes True oil....both thinned. Some walnut has larger pores than others.
kw

Daryl · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2020, 01:36:10 AM »

Quote from: canadianml1 on May 31, 2020, 08:37:43 PM

What's your experience with finishing black walnut? I was thinking of using just Tru-oil sanded in to fill the grain. I did it on a French trade gun and it turned out really well. The stock that I am working on is somewhat darker so I am not sure. Any ideas appreciated.

Also going to finish barrel faux French gray with Brass Black or Super Perma Blue(first attempt with same). Any pointers would be appreciated.

That is the finish on this pistol, True Oil. I first attempted a stain, which turned the stock black. I re-sanded off all that stained wood & re-did it with oil only.

jerrywh · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2020, 01:47:55 AM »

True oil works great if you apply it correctly. It can be too shiny if applied wrong in my opinion. I some times put a coat of teak oil over the top of it just to knock off the shine. I think staining walnut is a bad idea.

mountainman70 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2020, 04:19:43 AM »

I'm with Jerry. Walnut looks fine just tru oiled or something similar. Dave

longcruise · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2020, 05:57:50 AM »

You can aso sand in a dilute clear, NOT amber, shellac for sealer.

canadianml1 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2020, 05:55:05 AM »

Any pointers on faux French gray?

TonyM · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2020, 06:31:03 AM »

Use naval jelly or BC rust & blue remover. It will gray the steel.

Daryl · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2020, 07:07:17 PM »

The stock on my pistol above, has no stain remaining - just oil.
It is not quite as dark as it appears.

canadianml1 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2020, 08:57:52 PM »

Nice pistol!!!!!!!!!

Not English · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2020, 06:51:56 AM »

I like a little orange stain with walnut. It adds just a hint of brightness to a wood that can get dark really easily.

smart dog · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2020, 02:28:30 PM »

Hi,
If you use our search function for "finishing black walnut" and "gray finish on barrel", the result should be hundreds of posts describing those topics, which have been discussed on this forum many, many times over.

dave

canadianml1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2020, 09:06:49 PM »

Dave

I tried the search routine before and got diddly! I think I used it correctly, how hard can this be!

Any suggestions that might help?

Grant

smart dog · « **Reply #15 on:** June 09, 2020, 02:53:16 AM »

Hi,
Search for" finishing black walnut". I get a lot of posts with just those words.

dave

canadianml1 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 09, 2020, 03:15:56 AM »

Got the walnut couldn't get anything on graying a barrel! (French gray)

smart dog · « **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2020, 03:33:23 AM »

Hi,
Enter "finish walnut" and you will get 29 pages of posts. Just do a search for finishing barrels or gray barrel finish. By the way, a French grey barrel is totally wrong for a Pennsylvania fowler and often what is discussed as "French gray" is nothing of the sort. True "French grey" finish is a 19th century process.

dave

canadianml1 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2020, 04:52:51 AM »

Found the stuff on French gray finally. Thanks. That wasn't so hard after all!

Yes I know they are largely referring to fake French gray, that's the meaning of the French word faux.

I would like to stay period correct with my JC fowler circa 1770 but I don't like the "pebbly" finish of the browning process that I have used, nor do I want a cold blue/black finish. As I see it I have five remaining choices that are within my capability to execute successfully :

1. French's yellow mustard faux damascene(sp?) process which I have used on knife blades

2. polish bright and take back with 2000 grit sand paper.

3. polish to 300 grit, brass black and take back with 0000 steel wool to provide an aged look.*

4.Some sort of phosphoric acid faux French gray.

5. a combination of the above.

* I have tried this with small pieces of steel and it takes the"brand new" look away so I like it

Have I missed any?

Any comments appreciated.

Grant

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Author Topic: Finishing Black Walnut and Barrel (Read 3070 times)

Goose